Application Design 1 / Final Assignment

30/10/2023 - 20/12/2023 / (Week 6 - Week 12)
Naura / 0356798 / Interactive Spatial Design
DST60504 / Application Design 1
Final Assignment

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INSTRUCTIONS

Final Assignment: Understanding and Analysing Mobile Applications UXUI (50%)

Here are the things that need to be included in the report:

• User Experience and Interface Design:
• Defining the goals and objectives of the application. What should users be able to do within the Greek mythology study space?
• Design the visual elements, including colour schemes, typography, icons, and imagery, to align with the Greek mythology theme.
• Application Type:
• Decide on the type of application that best suits the project, whether it's a web application, a mobile app, a kiosk, or a combination of these. 
• Consider the platform's limitations and strengths when designing the user interface.
• User Personas:
• Develop user personas based on your research. These should represent different user segments with distinct needs and goals.
• Include demographics, behaviours, preferences, and pain points for each persona.
• Ensure that the personas align with your Greek mythology theme. For example, you could have personas like "Mythology Enthusiast" or "History Student."
•  User Journey:
•  Create a user journey map that illustrates the user's steps when interacting with your application.
• Highlight key touchpoints, emotions, and pain points throughout the user journey.
•  Use the user journey to identify opportunities for improving the user experience.
•  Wireframe Design:
• Use wireframing tools like Adobe XD, Figma, or Sketch on A4 paper to create detailed wireframes for each application screen.
• Ensure that the wireframes reflect the user flow and incorporate feedback from user testing.
• Pay attention to the placement of navigation, content, and interactive elements.
•  User Interface Design:
• Based on the wireframes, create high-fidelity user interface designs that incorporate the Greek mythology theme.
• Design visually appealing interfaces with attention to detail and consistency.
• Consider accessibility guidelines to ensure the application is usable by many users.

I should keep the Greek mythology theme consistent throughout the design to create a cohesive and engaging user experience.

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(WEEK 10) 1st Consultation - 30/11/2023

I presented my work to my lecturer to ensure accuracy. He approved most of it but suggested adding more colour to the user personas. However, I think the use of historically and culturally significant colours adds depth to it. Furthermore, this subtle hue brings elegance and simplicity to the design of the user personas. I aim to incorporate elements that reflect technology into the design, given that it's a user persona specifically for my application.

Additionally, he provided examples of how he envisions the user journey and wireframes. He emphasized making the user journey more visually engaging, like the example he showed.

FIG 1.1 How he envisions the user journey looks.

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The following day, realizing my uncertainty in using Figma, I decided to look up tutorials to better understand and navigate this design tool. Having a Skillshare account, I chose to learn from Daniel Scott's "Figma UI UX Design Essentials" course. This seemed like an ideal way to deepen my understanding and skills in Figma for UI/UX design.

FIG 1.2 Looking up Figma Tutorials.

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(WEEK 11) 2nd Consultation - 04/12/23

For this week's consultation, I presented my wireframes for the UI design. Sir Yusri reviewed them and remarked that my UI was understandable and easy to follow, particularly noting the effectiveness of the arrows I used for guidance.

FIG 2.1 My initial wireframe

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(WEEK 12) 3rd Consultation - 11/12/23

During my third consultation with Sir Yusri, I showcased my progress with the user journey, focusing on the icons for each stage. I explained that I initially sketched these icons and then digitized them with the assistance of a friend. Additionally, I mentioned that the pillars in the design were sourced from the Freepik website. Sir Yusri reviewed my work and confirmed that everything was okay.

FIG 3.1 My Progress on the User Journey

Later on, I decided to shift the colour palette of my design from purple to a combination of yellow and brown. This change was made to ensure that the colours aligned more harmoniously with the overall theme and aesthetic of my upcoming presentation.

FIG 3.2 Final Output of the User Journey

Additionally, I sought my lecturer's perspective on my logo, focusing especially on how it contrasts with the loading screen. He appreciated the design of the logo but suggested improvements in contrast. Specifically, he advised reversing the colour scheme, placing the darker elements at the top and the lighter ones at the bottom, to achieve more seamless integration with the loading screen while still maintaining strong contrast.

FIG 4.1 Comparing the legibility and Readability of the logo

Fig 4.2 Flipping the shades to see if it works as well as playing around with the colour of the border

Lastly, I wanted to seek my lecturer's advice on incorporating Greek elements into my application. My aim was to avoid a bulky design and instead create something simple and elegant, capturing the grandeur and essence of Greek mythology. I was particularly focused on selecting elements that would embody the majesty of the myths without overcomplicating the design.

Fig 5.1 Some border designs I could incorporate into my UI

While searching online for Greek-themed decorative elements to incorporate into my UI design, I primarily encountered Arabian decorations. Unsure about the suitability of these elements for my Greek-themed application, I consulted Sir Yusri for his opinion. He observed that technically, Greek and Arabian designs share some similarities, and thus, he believed that the Arabian decorations could be effectively integrated into the UI. He indicated that these elements, despite their different cultural origins, could still complement the overall aesthetic I was aiming for in my application.

Fig 5.2 The Arabian Deco UI set I found on the Internet

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(WEEK 13) 4th and Final Consultation - 18/12/23

For my final consultation, I presented my progress on the UI to Sir Yusri. He observed that there should be an option for users who might prefer learning without playing the game. He suggested the importance of catering to those who are more interested in gathering information directly. Therefore, he recommended incorporating a dedicated button for learning purposes. This button would provide a straightforward way for users to access educational content, leading them to a navigation main menu designed specifically for information gathering, separate from the gaming aspect.

Fig 6.1 My UI progress during the consultation

He also suggested that I should prototype the UI. For instance, he advised that each button should be designed to lead to a specific page. This approach would not only enhance the user experience through clear navigation but also bring the interface to life with interactive elements.

Fig 6.2 The Final output of the logo

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(WEEK 13) Final Presentation Day - 20/12/23

The final presentation was scheduled for December 20th. In all honesty, the preceding night was restless for me due to overwhelming stress. My anxiety stemmed from several factors: my project space was still incomplete, there were issues with some textures not loading correctly, and, compounding these difficulties, the Spatial.io website — a vital element for my presentation — had malfunctioned. Moreover, I had been unwell since the beginning of the week, which only added to the challenges I was facing. All these factors together significantly heightened my stress in the lead-up to the presentation.

However, amidst these challenges, I successfully managed to complete the UI of my application. This included not only finalizing the design but also prototyping it, incorporating the valuable suggestions I received during my final consultation with Sir Yusri. This achievement was a significant milestone, especially considering the time constraints and the stress leading up to the presentation day.

I feel that I did the best I could in presenting both my space and application, and I'm quite proud of the outcome, especially considering I was feeling under the weather. After my presentation, feedback from my lecturers and an external judge indicated that the application seemed too confusing. This might have been due to separate flows in Figma, making it difficult for the judges to follow my intended message. Additionally, they noted that the colour palette in the main gameplay was markedly darker compared to the home screen and loading screen. The external judge suggested that the images could be brighter for better visual appeal. Reflecting on this feedback, I made a concerted effort to adjust the UI as effectively as possible before the final submission on Sunday, December 24th.

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FINAL PRESENTATION REVISION - 24/12/23

This document represents my submission for the final assessment of this module. I have included all the necessary sections, such as 'Future Implementation' and 'Conclusion', ensuring a comprehensive and complete presentation of my work.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Reflecting on the completion of my final assignment, "Understanding and Analyzing Mobile Applications UX/UI," with a focus on Greek mythology, I've gained some invaluable insights and also faced significant challenges. The assignment was a deep dive into the world of UX/UI design, requiring me to integrate various components like user experience design, interface design, user personas, and journey mapping.

One of the most enriching aspects of this project was the process of defining the goals and objectives of the application. It pushed me to think critically about what users would seek in a Greek mythology study space. Designing the visual elements was particularly enjoyable; choosing colour schemes, typography, and imagery that resonated with the ancient theme was a creative exercise that I found both challenging and rewarding.

However, the most challenging aspects were the wireframe design and user interface design. Translating my ideas into detailed wireframes and then into high-fidelity user interface designs required a level of precision and attention to detail that was both taxing and time-consuming. Ensuring consistency with the Greek mythology theme across all these elements was a constant challenge.

Throughout this process, I was confronted with the realities of working on such a comprehensive project individually. The stress of managing all these components alone, along with the pressure to meet the project's high standards, was overwhelming at times. This experience has led me to a crucial personal realization: I would prefer not to undertake such extensive assignments solo in the future. The support, collaboration, and shared creativity that comes with group projects are not only beneficial for stress management but also enhance the learning experience and the quality of the final output.

In conclusion, while this final assignment has been a tremendous learning opportunity and a significant step in my academic journey, it has also taught me the importance of collaboration and the challenges of handling extensive projects individually. Going forward, I aim to engage more in collaborative efforts, balancing my own contributions with the support and insights of a team.